Jerry Pope

Jerry was appointed Director of the Division of Prison Operations in September 2013. He has been with the Department of Corrections for 28 years and has spent all 28 within the Division of Institutional Operations. Most of his time has been at the Utah State Prison; however, he spent two years at the Central Utah Correctional Facility when it first opened in Gunnison. Prior to his appointment, Jerry had served in the organization as an officer, lieutenant, captain, and deputy warden.

Jerry received his Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2008. He has traveled the country as a consultant on Facility Staffing Management to facilities in the Philadelphia Prison System, Shelby County, Tennessee (Memphis), New Mexico Corrections, and Oregon Corrections.

Jerry has served in varies professional and staff organizations throughout his career. He served as the president of the Utah State Prison Employee Association, president of the Utah Correctional Association, and is currently serving as the vice president of the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial and vice president of the Utah Public Employees Association.

The Division of Prison Operations oversees the most well-known function of Corrections: providing safety and security at the State's two prisons. The Division provides inmate transportation services (for court hearings, hospital visits, etc.). It also oversees the Inmate Placement Program, through which State inmates are placed in county jails around Utah.

Our mission: Our dedicated team of professionals ensures public safety by effectively managing offenders while maintaining close collaboration with partner agencies and the community. Our team is devoted to providing maximum opportunities for offenders to make lasting changes through accountability, treatment, education, and positive reinforcement within a safe environment.